Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-23
an1nIisnation Meeting.

The people of Manassas and vicinity as
sembled yesterday and formally repudiated
Rev. F. NJ. Todd, the pastor of the Presby-
terrain Church, who was recently tiled ny
the Washington Presbytery on charges of
immoral conduct and requested him to
resign his passionate and leave tho neighbor-
hood. Populations from The surrounding
country swelled the crowd to somewhere in
the vicinity OF 100 A member Of the Epis-
copal church presided, and series of reso-
lutions were introduced, the preamble stat
ing that great disgrace and scandal had
been brought upon the community by Mr..
Todd, which brought religion into disrepute
and scandalized the community. The reso-
lutions declared that the good name of the
town and the honor of religion demanded
| that Mr.. Todd should resign his Dastorate,
! leave the neghborhood, and withdraw lrom
| the ministry which he had disgraced.
The presiding officer made an address In
which he severely denounced Mr.. Todd.
| He interspersed his remarks with frequent
condemnation of the Presbytery before
| which Mr.. Todd was tried. He inveighed
! against the verdict, claiming that the
evidence conclusively proved the clergy
mans guilt For the good name ofthe town
he demanded that righteous action be taken
which would result in purgng the place Of
| the Objectionable minister. He was follow
ed by Mr.. Nichol in a similar strain, who in
turn was followed by prominent member
of the Baptist Church, who also denounced
| the verdict, the minister, and the Presby-
| tery. Todd was designated by several vile
names, one of the speakers designating him
as "the off.scouring of the street." While
using very violent language the speakers
were very careful TO depreCate the use OF
| violence, although some threats were made.
| All, however, united on one point, and that
I was that Mr.. Todd should leave the neigh
| borhood. At the conclusion of the speeches
the resolutions of denunciation were put
and adopted almost unanimously, there be.
ing but one dissenting voice.
Four damaging afidavits from residents
of The neighborhood, giving instances of al
legged immortality on the part of Mr.. Todd.
were read.
| One old gentlemen sitting near the presi-
dent exclaimed Good Lord !" as each OF
I the ailidavits was read, but beyond this
there were no comments.
4 1t is generally believed that so emphatic
Gan expression OF public sentiment will have
| the desired effect, and that Mr.. Todd will
leave the community before any violence is
used to getrid of him. He hasalready proved
himself man of wonderful audacity, how
ever, and while the people were assembling
at Hickson's Hall, he walked up and down
in the street and coolly scanned the crowd.
The feeling against him is not confined to
Manassas, and yesterday the people OF
Nokesvile held meeting, and by the fol-
lowing resolutions pledged themselves to
stand by any action taken By the the people
of Manassas:
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Nokes-
vile and vicinity whose names are affixed,
/ do pledge ourselves to abide by and carry
out any resolutions that may be adopted at
meeting 20 be held at Manassas on the ODD
of July.
TO this resolution the names OF about fifty
prominent citizens were attached.
When asked his opinion OF the action OF
the meeting at Manassas Mr.. Todd said he
| regretted that such an exhibition should be
made. THE meeting" he said, demon
strates that no Northern man can assume
any position of influence or prominence in
this community. My church members are
serious and will stand by me. They have
written me letter assuring me of their con-
lidence in me. They request that | shall
remain with them and shall fight it out
on that line if it takes all summer